Health
Defect in antioxidant response increases asthma susceptibility
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 25, 2005
Disruption of the Nrf2 gene, which regulates the lungs' response to environmental pollution, increases the risk of severe inflammation and asthma, according to a study published in the July 4 Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Johns Hopkins University researchers studied allergen-mediated asthma in mouse models. When this gene was inhibited, the mice were more likely to get the disease. Researchers suggest that this may prove to become a new target for asthma therapy.
Researchers plan next to study the molecular mechanism for this gene's regulation.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/07/25/hlbf0725.htm.